The Danish architecture firm Vandkunsten designed a small test house called “House Nuuk” for the Venice Biennale in 2012. This house is now located in Greenland and is intended to demonstrate how it is possible to live in several climate zones.
The Danish architecture firm Vandkunsten designed a small test house called “House Nuuk” for the Venice Biennale in 2012. This house is now located in Greenland and is intended to demonstrate how it is possible to live in several climate zones.
The test house in Nuuk, developed by the Danish Technical University DTU and designed by Vandkunsten, is testing new structures. Among other things, it is intended to find out whether a covered terrace area is attractive for houses in the Arctic. The question of whether there is a future for building houses with an indoor and outdoor climate under the same roof is also to be answered. Normally, building envelopes and insulation are combined in residential houses in the Arctic, whereas the “House Nuuk” has a two-part envelope.
This new construction consists of an outer and an inner layer. The outer layer of polycarbonate provides protection from wind and rain, but lets light through. The inner layer provides heat, moisture and sound insulation in the living spaces. There is also an intermediate zone in two places in the house, which creates an unheated and naturally tempered inner courtyard area. This serves as a conservatory or utility room.
The construction of “House Nuuk” in Greenland is part of a major research project called “Arctic Building and Construction” (ABC), which, with a budget of 23 million DKK (around three million euros), is Greenland’s largest building research project to date.
The Vandkunsten test house, which was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2012, is intended to clarify which construction method is advantageous in the Arctic. DTU is also investigating the use of the intermediate zone. To this end, the DTU Civil Engineering department is accompanying the house for two years while it is inhabited by a family. During this time, the researchers measure parameters such as humidity and temperature inside the house, in the structure and in the intermediate zone. These are compared with the weather data.
The researchers also ask the test family about their experiences of living in the house, the indoor climate and its functionality. In this way, the DTU, together with Vandkunsten, hopes to stimulate a discussion about building practices in the Arctic. In future, properties in the region should optimize functionality and indoor climate, with the results of the test house leading the way.
DTU Civil Engineering will accompany the house for two years, during which time it will be occupied by a family. During this time, the researchers will measure humidity and temperature in the construction and the indoor climate, both inside the house and in the intermediate zone, and compare the measurements with weather data. In addition, the researchers will interview the test family about their experience of living in the house and give their opinion on the indoor climate and functionality of the house.
Next to the test house in Nuuk is a test pavilion whose exterior and interior walls and roof consist of elements with six different structures. The room is heated and humidified as if it were inhabited. Here, too, researchers measure the moisture content and temperature of the individual structures in order to investigate their robustness under changing weather conditions.
With the test house, Vandkunsten Architects and the consulting firm Ramboll are continuing their exhibition project from the Biennale. After the test phase, the house will be handed over to the city council of Sermersooq. The research results will be incorporated into the ABC research project.
“The test house and the ABC project will give us insights into how best to build in Arctic conditions. It’s not just about how we build the buildings, but also about the process, the logistics, how to build a good city in Arctic conditions and what the residents think about living in the different conditions,” says Tove Lading, project manager and associate professor at DTU Civil Engineering.
The Venice Biennale not only had a lot to offer in 2012, this year too, exciting projects will be presented in the Italian city under the motto “Future Laboratory”. We have summarized the most important facts about the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023.
